title: Muscle fiber type characterization and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform expression in Mediterranean buffaloes.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform expression and muscle fiber types of Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semitendinosus (ST) in Mediterranean buffaloes and possible fibers muscles modulation according to different slaughter weights. The presence of MyHC IIb isoforms was not found. Only three isoforms of MyHC (IIa, IIx/d and I) were observed and their percentages did not vary significantly among slaughter weights. The confirmation of the presence of hybrid muscles fibers (IIA/X) in LD and ST muscles necessitated classifying the fiber types into fast and slow according to their contractile activity, by m-ATPase assay. For both muscles, the muscle fiber frequency was higher for fast than for slow fibers in all weight groups. There was a difference (P<0.05) in the frequency of LD and ST muscle fiber types according to slaughter weights, which demonstrate that the slaughter weight influences the profile of muscle fibers from buffaloes.
authors.affiliation: UNESP, Univ Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Produção Animal, P. O. Box 560, 18618-000 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. carolinelimafrancisco@gmail.com
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dal-Pai-Silva
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Carani
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Cabeço
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018656:Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D009218:Myosins / Q000378:metabolism; D009246:NADH Tetrazolium Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D024744:Skeletal Muscle Myosins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D009246:NADH Tetrazolium Reductase; D024744:Skeletal Muscle Myosins; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains; D009218:Myosins